R JONATHAN BAKER, Principal of Pusey House, is the new Ebbsfleet Area Dean for Oxford. He takes over the position with immediate effect from Fr Michael Melrose who, I am very pleased to say, remains Ebbsfleet Episcopal Vicar for Reading. Fr Michael Brewin has ceased to be Episcopal Vicar for Oxford and Dorchester, giving way to Fr Baker who will take on these responsibilities also.

The explanation for these changes is that the place of Pusey House and its Principal has been so central in the story of the Oxford Movement (since Pusey's friends bought his library in the 1880s and endowed it as 'Pusey House') that it is appropriate that the Principal of Pusey House continues to be the leading light amonst Oxford's Anglo-Catholics. Fr Jonathan Baker, who is a Proctor in Convocation, is a priest of great ability in whom I gladly put my trust. He has reached the judgment that the time is now right for the Principal to take on this role.

It remains for me to place on record my thanks to Fr Michael Melrose for narrowing his focus but continuing faithfully to serve and my thanks to Fr Michael Brewin who is as conscious as I am of the symbolic importance of Oxford and Pusey House for us all and who therefore gladly made way for Pusey House's new Principal.

Fr Ross Northing continues, as before, as Ebbsfleet Episcoapl Vicar for Buckingham.

+ Andrew Ebbsfleet
July 11th AD2003
Feast of St Benedict, Patron of Europe

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